Note 158 — QUARRELS OF AUTHORS;
Reading edition
The author of “The Canons of Criticism” addressed a severe sonnet to Warburton; and alludes to the “Alliance”:—
“Reign he sole king in paradoxal land, And for Utopia plan his idle schemes Of visionary leagues, alliance vain ’Twixt Will and Warburton—”
On which he adds this note, humorously stating the grand position of the work:—“The whole argument by which the alliance between Church and State is established, Mr. Warburton founds upon this supposition—‘That people, considering themselves in a religious capacity, may contract with themselves, considered in a civil capacity.’ The conceit is ingenious, but is not his own. Scrub, in the Beaux Stratagem, had found it out long ago: he considers himself as acting the different parts of all the servants in the family; and so Scrub, the coachman, ploughman, or justice’s clerk, might contract with Scrub, the butler, for such a quantity of ale as the other assumed character demanded.”—Appendix, p. 261.